More than one in ten Brussels residents has mental health problems, the latest survey by Belgium's national health institute Sciensano shows.
Mental health problems were the focus of much attention during the Covid-19 crisis but remain a reality for many Brussels residents: 12.9% show symptoms of anxiety and 12.6% show forms of depression.
"This is a worrying situation," Luc Detavernier, deputy director and director of the Brussels Platform on Mental Health, told Belga News Agency.
The problem is that half of Brussels residents say they do not ask for help: 30% of Brussels participants in the survey say they need care, but almost half of them say they do not get it. The reasons they indicate are 'lack of time' (36%) and 'not daring to take the step' (31%).
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The Brussels health authorities are therefore encouraging all residents to talk about their problems and seek help.
"As we can see, many people take far too long to take steps to ask for help," Detavernier said. "So it is important to remove the stigma when it comes to seeking help: dare to talk about it, do not be afraid to share your problems."
Together with Psybru (an initiative that allows citizens to easily find a psychologist in their municipality), the Brussels health authorities want to launch an awareness campaign and encourage Brussels residents to talk about their concerns and mental health.
"Talking about it with friends and family or contacting a psychologist can be a decisive step towards better mental health," they said.
